Chargers veteran cornerback Quentin Jammer had trouble jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage with a broken hand. K.C. Alfred • U-T

The jam is returning to Quentin Jammer’s game.

Recovered from a hand fracture, the cornerback is finally able to jam or shove receivers.

“It’s huge,” said Chargers defensive coordinator John Pagano. “Anytime you’ve got the ability for a defensive back to use both hands, it puts him more at balance.”

Jammer stayed in the lineup despite the broken right hand suffered Sept. 10 in the season opener.

He wasn’t able to jam receivers until the team’s most recent game, and only with limited success. But Jammer said he should be close to full thrust against Bucs receivers on Sunday.

“It’s not fully healed,” he said, “but it’s healed enough to where I feel confident to go out there and put my hands on people now.”

Coming off a bad season in 2011, Jammer said in August that he would rebound this year because he’d put a divorce behind him.

Despite the fractured hand, he’s living up to the prediction. He has two interceptions, one of which he returned 80 yards for his first career touchdown. He had no interceptions last year. His first forced fumble since 2010 locked up the Week 4 win at Kansas City. With 49 tackles, he’s on pace to match his best total since 2008.

Jammer has allowed 24 completions in 46 passes (.522) for an average of 16 yards per catch. Last year, he gave up 39 completions in 68 passes (.576). The average gain was 18.2 yards.

The jam could be needed against the high-powered Bucs, notably Vincent Jackson, who is averaging an NFL-best 22.9 yards per catch.

“You get up there and you jam ’em,” Pagano said. “You’ve got to be physical.”

Jammer is still having his hand taped for practices and games but said he’s no longer “trying to protect it,” especially on tackle attempts. “It’s just about going in there, wrapping up and making tackles,” he said.

Ball, please

If the Chargers pry the ball from Bucs running back Doug Martin, consider it a major feat.

Heck, to hear Pagano, the referees may struggle to reclaim the ball from the protective rookie.

“When he gets up, even handing the ball to the officials, it’s always high and tight,” he said.

Last Sunday against the Raiders, Martin set an NFL record with three rushing touchdowns of at least 45 yards. It was part of a 251-yard, four-TD rushing performance. “The most impressive thing about him is how he sees the hole — great vision,” Pagano said. “He’s not very hesitant. He’s not one of those guys that’s going to dance around back there.”

• Pagano saw the replay of his brother Chuck’s postgame address to the Colts last Sunday. The footage has become a featured highlight on ESPN and the NFL Network. Chuck, the Indianapolis coach, is being treated for leukemia, now in remission. “Oh yeah, it was awesome,” John said. “It was such a great moment. It was so inspiring and I’m happy for him.”